Blessed from the Beginning

A short autobiography of flashbacks of the life of Dr. Frazier Ben Todd, Sr. (the First African American to have a fully licensed foot and ankle surgical center in Georgia). The book provides reflections of his family genealogy, his experiences as a poor black southern boy from the south and his journey as a family man, physician, pastor and retired military major.

Read the exciting story of a man who was born in the Deep South who overcame great odds to become one of Georgia's first African American podiatrists with a fully licensed foot and ankle surgical center. His early childhood experiences are vividly recalled. Raised in a poor and extremely large family (20 siblings) yet rich in love and tradition, he got his early start. Follow his life's path from Atlanta to the Orient and San Francisco. Read how his twenty-six years of military service influenced his family and career. His early seeds of faith matured to his being ordained in the ministry in 1977. The biography of one of Atlanta's own success stories will make you laugh and motivate you to pursue your life's ambitions. This is his story.

Dr. Frazier Ben Todd Sr., DPM, CWS, DABPS, DABDA, DAAWN, DNBPE, FACFAS, has had a remarkable life and a distinguished career. He was one of the first African-American physicians in Georgia to operate a fully licensed foot and ankle surgical center. He was the first African-American physician to chair the Podiatric Surgical Residency program in Atlanta at the Physicians and Surgeons Hospital, and he was one of the first surgical residency-trained African-American podiatric surgeons in Georgia. His post-graduate training includes a podiatric surgical residency in foot and ankle surgery, Pacific Coast Hospital (California, 1972, 1973); Fellowship, Atlanta Hospital (1984–1986); Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences-Military Medicine Education Institute (1986, 1987, 1990); and Interdenominational Theological Center Seminary Class of 2006. Board certifications include Fellow - American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons; Diplomat - American Board of Podiatric Surgery; Diplomat - National Board of Podiatry Examiners; Diplomat - American Academy of Wound Management; and Senior Disability Analyst. Dr. Todd's hospital affiliations include (1973–2006): Atlanta Hospital and Medical Center, Columbia Northlake Medical Center (GA); Decatur Hospital (GA); Eisenhower Army Medical Center (GA); Physicians and Surgeons Hospital (GA); South Fulton Hospital and Medical Center (GA); WellStar Windy Hill (GA); Southwest Atlanta Ambulatory Foot and Ankle Surgical Center; Winn Army Hospital, Ft. Stewart, Georgia. Dr. Todd is an accomplished speaker and lecturer for medical schools, organizations, local and international school systems, churches, businesses, and other civic organizations. He has published several articles: Urban Health, "An Underplayed Need in Health Services and Podiatric Care," October 1974; Case Presentation, "Granuloma Cell Myoblastoma," 1976; and Podiatry Yearbook, "Clinical Laboratory Medicine," 1977–1978. Dr. Todd has been ordained as a minister of the Gospel since 1977 and is an elder in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. In 1979, he served as pastor of several AME churches. He founded the Church of Hope Ministries (COHM) in 1985, a full gospel church, and later established the Church of Hope Christian Academy, an educational facility for children. The Church of Hope Ministries, a non-denominational ministry, has also served as a chapter for "Promise Keepers." In 2014 he became a restorative practitioner.